Mandatory Credit: © Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports, © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports, © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
(Surprise, Arizona) — General Manager Chris Young turned around the Texas Rangers in four seasons and led them to a championship. And if the top prospect drawing raves at spring training is any indication, he may have also set them up for long-term success
Rangers camp has one kid hogging all the attention so far; Wyatt Langford – Texas’ second-best prospect and the sixth overall rated prospect in the MLB Pipeline.
Longtime pitching coach Mike Maddux watched live batting practice and came away offering high praise for the 22-year-old: “I just saw the best player on the field, Wyatt Langford,” Maddux exclaimed.
It comes as no surprise to anyone within the Rangers organization that Langford has been cooking so quickly. Langford was impressive during his time in the SEC with the Florida Gators, exploding with a slash line of .363/.471/.746 career averages in college. He proceeded to blow through the minor leagues, particularly in triple-A ball, hitting .360/.480/.677 across all four levels of the minor leagues.
At 6’1”, 225 pounds, Langford is an outfielder who smacks the baseball around with ease. MLB Pipeline grades his power at 70, hitting ability at 60, and running ability at 50. Everything you want out of a high-potential prospect on offense, Langford has.
“The biggest goal is just to learn as much as I can, make sure to just be myself and go out there and play and have fun,” Langford said. “If it happens, then awesome. If not, then I’ll go to wherever they send me to and do the best I can.”
Young admitted that Langford is “in real competition to make the club.
Langford almost entered the show in 2023 when Adolis Garcia went down–Texas went with Evan Carter, the fifth-best prospect, over Langford.
Texas decided to keep Langford on their “stay-ready” group along with fellow top prospects Jack Leiter, Owen White, and Cole Winn. He would arrive early to take live batting practice, at one point off Max Scherzer, which started to catch eyes during the championship run.
Fast forward five months, and Langford is making his presence known in spring training. Young hasn’t ruled out Langford making the big league roster even despite their packed outfield.
“He will tell us when he’s ready, and if that’s now, it’s now,” concluded Young.
